Eye ill worry

THE eye disease trachoma which was contracted by 16 primary school students from Dravuni Village in Tailevu was confined to the village only, according to health officials.

Senior Korovou divisional medical officer Dr Ilisapeci Lasaro said the students were treated and medicine supplied to the school so it could be administered properly.

Dr Lasaro said at the end of the day it came down to sanitation.

"Trachoma is a disease spread through improper sanitation and if people live in such a manner, then such diseases will spread," Dr Lasaro said.

"Trachoma is not the only disease that is spread through that way. So people have to be careful."

Dr Lasaro said water samples were taken from Dravuni by the Nausori Rural Authority.

Ministry of Health's national adviser on communicable diseases Dr Mike Kama said the ministry was looking to do a survey in areas where the water supply was localised to villages.

"A survey on trachoma undertaken in 2012 and published in the Fiji Public Health Journal last year indicated the prevalence rate for trachoma in Fiji of 15 per cent," he said.

"There are some technical aspects of the survey that the ministry is still considering prior to making a decision on the national intervention that should ensure to prevent and control trachoma in Fiji."